LUCKNOW: The Asian Games men's trials are set to take place at the Sports Authority of India's indoor stadium on Sunday, with all eyes on 2019 World Championships silver medallist Deepak Punia.
Punia, a dominant force in 86kg freestyle and silver medallist at the 2023 Asian Games, aims to make a statement and a comeback that could redefine his career and strengthen India's medal hopes in the Games in Japan.
However, his career has been marked by injuries, form fluctuations, and selection setbacks, which have tested his resilience.
Other notable wrestlers participating in the trials include 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat, world No. 1 Sujeet Kalkal, and multiple Asian Championships and 2023 Asian Games Greco-Roman medal-winner Sunil Kumar.
Indian wrestlers won six medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games, and the trials will be a crucial test of their skills, with coaches watching not only wins but also the manner of those wins.
Coach Vinod expects India's wrestlers to win medals in each category, making it six from freestyle alone, and believes the bench strength is a sign of big improvements India have made since the last Asian Games.
